Best Star Wars Scenes

15 Of The Best Star Wars Scenes Ever

Putting anything Star Wars-related in an ordered list is always going to provoke some anger, so we’ll start by saying this is our subjective list. You are very free to disagree. In fact, we'd encourage it. That is part of the joy of the series, that there are different things to love and hate. If you haven’t time to watch all the previous six films in the trilogy before you see Force Awakens, then we’d recommend just checking out these to top up your excitement levels. It’s SO CLOSE NOW.

Yoda Vs. Dooku

Classic Star Wars moments were few and far between in the prequels, but when they came, with the full might of very expensive modern effects technology, they were wonderful. When Yoda corners Count Dooku they do some rather dull force business but then decide the battle can only be settled with…oh…oh god…YODA’S GOING TO USE A LIGHTSABER. The fight against Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith is actually the better scene, but it didn’t have the surprise value of his first fight.

The Kiss

A great demonstration of the chemistry between Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. Their first kiss comes at the end of some sassy bickering about fixing machinery. By staying so true to their characters as they become a couple you will them to be together, rather than wish for the mushy stuff to get out of the way so we can get back to some shooting.

Obi Wan vs. Vader

How could the first big lightsaber fight not be in here? There’s none of the leaping about and such that we see later, but the spectacle of those glowy sticks battering against each other is still wonderful. And as a death scene for Obi Wan it’s a cracker.

I Find Your Lack Of Faith Disturbing

That Is Why You Fail

As Yoda explains the power of the force to a disbelieving Luke, who despite now being super-buff is not the enthusiastic pupil he might be, the little green man demonstrates what you can do if you properly harness the force. He lifts the craft from the swamp with ease. Have that, Skywalker, you uppity little fart.

Tie Fighter Attack

The Millennium Falcon is such a beloved part of the series that its mere appearance in the first Force Awakens teaser brought spontaneous cheers from cinema audiences. We really get to see what it can do in A New Hope when the Tie Fighters attack. George Lucas’s sprucing up of the effects for the special editions gets a lot of flack, but in this case it significantly improves the sequence.

The Destruction of Alderaan

The ultimate demonstration of the cruelty of the Galactic Empire. Once he’s captured Leia, Grand Moff Tarkin threatens her home planet of Alderaan in order to extract the location of the rebel base. Once she’s given up the information he demonstrates the power of the Death Star by blowing up Alderaan anyway. Git. Remember, this is just a test of the Death Star’s powers. He’s essentially just obliterated millions of lives as part of his beta test phase.

The Sail Barge Assault

As much as it’s become her most famous look, putting Leia in the gold bikini still seems a bit of a betrayal of the character, reducing her to mere sexy damsel in distress. But that aside, the fight on Jabba’s sail barge crams in a whole lot of classic moments, from simply the introduction of Jabba, to Luke demonstrating what a powerful fighter he has become, to Boba Fett facing an undignified end in the belly of the Sarlaac.

The Duel of the Fates

If there’s a scene that made the prequels worthwhile, it was this. Obi Wan and Qui Gon vs Darth Maul, who remains a superb creation even if he was the villain for the series’ worst film. That double lightsaber reveal. God, that’s good. The whole thing is full of beautiful touches, like the entire fight having to stop as the three men get trapped by…laser doors or something. It’s a brilliantly orchestrated scene. And that music!

Attack on the Death Star

The Battle of Hoth

Splendidly directed by Irvin Kirshner, The Empire Strikes Back gives us an epic battle sequence in the snowy plains of Hoth, differentiates itself from the space battles of its predecessor and gives us some of the best action of the entire series.

Han in Carbonite

There was so much darkness in the second film (or fifth, depending on how you’re counting). After being betrayed by Lando Calrissian, Han Solo is taken prisoner and put in carbonite. It provides one of the most emotional moments in the films with Chewie freaking out about his friend, but chiefly one of the great “I love you” moments in cinema. “I know,” says Han when Leia declares her feelings. Brilliant.

Visit to the Cantina

It’s actually a bit self-indulgent, this. When Obi Wan and Luke pay a visit to the cantina Lucas spends several minutes just looking around the bar, enjoying all the customers in their various bizarre forms. He’s entitled to it though as this is our first proper look at just how varied this universe is. The work done by the film’s prosthetic and puppetry departments is astonishing.

The Never-Ending Star Destroyer

The shot that blew millions of tiny minds in 1977. A New Hope’s opening shot is genius. A tiny ship whizzes over the top of the camera, shooting lasers as it goes. Already the effects are beyond anything cinema audiences have seen before. Then the pointy prow of a larger ship comes into view, and then keeps going, and going, and going. The Star Destroyer is seemingly endless. What is it? Who’s driving it? Can anything stop it? From the first few seconds George Lucas has you.

Luke vs. Vader

Any other choice for number one would be willfully contrary. When Luke finally faced Darth Vader it had to be the best fight scene of the trilogy, and so it was. Gorgeously shot against mist so the lightsabers glowed that bit more and Luke and Vader were mostly just quickly moving silhouettes, plus we get lots of storytelling while it happens. Joyous. And then came that big reveal…